Foolish Wives
Performance & Direction: Foolish Wives Review
Last updated: February 25, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Foolish Wives (1922) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.4/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and Foolish Wives features a noteworthy lineup led by Erich von Stroheim . Supported by the likes of Rudolph Christians and Miss DuPont , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Foolish Wives
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 1922, Foolish Wives is a Drama, Thriller film directed by Erich von Stroheim. The narrative explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Erich von Stroheim.
Ending Explained: Foolish Wives
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Erich von Stroheim, Foolish Wives concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes involving Erich von Stroheim, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Foolish Wives reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Foolish Wives?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Erich von Stroheim or the director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Box Office Collection: Foolish Wives
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $1.1M |
| Worldwide Gross | $400.2K |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Foolish Wives Budget
The estimated production budget for Foolish Wives is $1.1M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Foolish Wives
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch Foolish Wives Online?
Streaming HubFoolish Wives Parents Guide & Age Rating
1922 AdvisoryWondering about Foolish Wives age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Foolish Wives is 143 minutes (2h 23m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.4/10, and global performance metrics, Foolish Wives is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 1922 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Foolish Wives worth watching?
Foolish Wives is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 6.4/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Foolish Wives parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Foolish Wives identifies it as Not Rated. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Foolish Wives?
The total duration of Foolish Wives is 143 minutes, which is approximately 2h 23m long.
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Critic Reviews for Foolish Wives
It's a soap. Despite all the associated history of cuts, recuts and restoration it is still just a beautifully photographed soap opera. Erich von Stroheim did just about everything in this entertaining, if a little too cyclical, tale of a cad. That cad "Count Sergius Karanzim" (EVS) parades around the Côte D'Azur luring unsuspecting (wealthy) women to his rented villa in which he, with his two "cousins" (Maude George & Mae Busch as the Princesses "Petchnikoff") fleeces them relentlessly. For quite a while his charm, wit and guile provides them with a good living until he aims a little too high with the wife of an American diplomat in Monte Carlo. "Mrs. Hughes" (Miss Dupont) and her husband (Rudolph Christians) may well be about to put a spoke in the wheel of these confidence tricksters. It's good fun, this, with Von Stroheim eminently convincing as the con man and DuPont equally effective as his ditzy mark. The production is maybe a bit static, but at 100 years old, it is still delivered in a fashion that shows off the Mediterranean scenery whilst aiming one squarely between the eyes of the vacuous, riche, clientele who assumed their excesses of funds were adequate compensation for their gullibility, stupidity and naivety. It sags from time to time, so I am not hugely shocked that this original 21 reeler was scaled back somewhat. What we have here, though, still have flows well enough with succinct inter titles that are, at times, quite witty too. I am not sure I would ever bother to watch it again, but I am glad that I did. You can see here the template for so many films that followed.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
